National Park bid on Teviotdale agenda

Plans for a large part of the southern Borders to be given National Park status are to be discussed at Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Water Community Council on Monday.

The meeting will hear a presentation by Professor Jane Bowers, vice-chair of the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland and one of the leading campaigners for more National Parks in Scotland.

Upper Teviotdale vice-chair Bob Francombe told the Hawick News that [local] “opinions were divided”. He continued: “On the one hand people are saying it [NP status] would be good because wind farms would have a hard job getting permission, but on the other hand it would take control away from the local council.”

Asked if he felt the meeting might be contentious, Mr Francombe said: “I hope not because it’s still in the early stages yet and the more information we can learn about it, the more informed we will be to make a decision at a later stage.”